Low voltage charge pump circuit and method for pumping a node to an electrical potential

ABSTRACT

A charge pump circuit and method for increasing a value of a supply potential. The charge pump circuit features a first stage circuit for generating an intermediate pumped potential greater than an input supply potential. The intermediate pumped potential becomes a supply potential for a portion of a second stage circuit. The second stage circuit generates a pumped output potential greater than the intermediate pumped potential. Both the first and second stage circuits have at least two capacitors, a small pump capacitor and a large pump capacitor. The first stage circuit of the invention supplies the increased intermediate pumped potential to those nodes which are used to charge the small pump capacitor of the second stage circuit. The input supply potential supplies the potential to those nodes which are used to charge the large pump capacitors of both stages and the small pump capacitor of the first stage circuit. The small pump capacitor of the second stage circuit, in turn, supplies the gate voltage to an n-channel transistor of the second stage circuit which passes a full charge from the large pump capacitor to the output. Charging only the small pump capacitor of the second stage circuit with the intermediate pumped potential minimizes the loading effect of the second stage circuit on the first stage circuit.

This is a request for filing a continuation of co-pending application having U.S. Ser. No. 08/137,565 which was filed on Oct. 15, 1993 and will issue on Feb. 28, 1995 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,320.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to semiconductor circuit devices, and more particularly to charge pump circuits for providing a voltage to various components on semiconductor integrated circuits. The invention is particularly applicable to dynamic random access memory devices (DRAMs).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,325, entitled "High Efficiency Charge Pump Circuit" describes one charge pump and is herein incorporated by reference.

In order to pass a full charge to a DRAM memory cell through an n-channel access transistor, it is necessary to drive the gate of the n-channel access transistor to a voltage greater than the voltage used to charge the storage capacitor. Modern dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) use charge pumps to generate this higher potential.

A typical external supply potential is referred to as V_(ccx). V_(ccx) is often regulated. The internally regulated potential is referred to as V_(cc). In many applications V_(ccx) is equal to 5 volts and V_(cc) is regulated to 3.3 volts. A potential generated in a charge pump is generally referred to as V_(ccp). In typical cases V_(ccp) is two volts greater than the DRAM's internal regulated voltage, or two volts above V_(ccx) for DRAM's that do not use a regulated V_(cc).

Previous charge pump circuits have had difficulty operating with a V_(cc) below three volts. There have been attempts to design circuits to overcome this problem.

In one attempt to increase the efficiency of a charge pump having a regulated supply potential, a level translator circuit was added between the logic of the pump, and the pump capacitors. The level translator allowed the circuit to draw current from the external power source V_(ccx) rather than the regulated source V_(ccx). With this circuit a potential of (2V_(ccx) -V_(t)) could be passed through a pump n-channel transistor as V_(ccp), where V_(t) is the threshold voltage of the pump n-channel transistor. Thus for a V_(ccx) of 4 volts, the V_(ccp) is equal to 7 volts for a V_(t) of 1 volt. This is sufficient for transferring a full V_(cc) into a memory location of a DRAM. In early regulated devices, V_(cc) may range from 3.5 to 4 volts. However, there is currently a trend toward lower levels of V_(ccx). Current specifications require V_(ccx) of 2.7 to 3.6 volts, and the trend is toward even lower V.sub. ccx levels. In systems with low V_(ccx), there is no longer a need for a regulated V_(ccx). Instead, V_(ccx) is used throughout the circuit. V_(ccp) is still required to pass a full V_(ccx) in to the DRAM memory cell. As V_(ccx) is reduced, the efficiency of the V_(ccp) pump is also reduced since the charge available for transfer to V_(ccp) is proportional to V_(ccx) times the capacitance of the pump capacitor. Thus as V_(ccx) is reduced, the pump eventually fails.

In another attempt 2V_(ccx) can be passed through as V_(ccp) in a two stage pump by using one pump to generate the entire supply voltage for a second pump. This approach is inefficient for a low level supply potential and is impractical since all the charge eventually is generated from the first pump. In this configuration a very large first stage pump is required to provide the required supply potential for the second stage pump.

Thus a need exists to provide a pumped potential at the gate of the access transistor such that the full charge on the memory storage capacitor is passed through the access transistor for devices with low V_(ccx).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a charge pump circuit for generating a pumped potential. In one application the pumped potential is used to pass a full charge to or from a storage capacitor of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The charge pump circuit of the invention features a first stage circuit and a second stage circuit, and there is minimal loading of the first stage circuit by the second stage circuit. The pumped potential passed from the second stage circuit to a charge pump output node comes primarily from V_(ccx) and not from the first stage pump. This allows the first stage to remain small.

The first stage circuit of the invention generates an intermediate pumped potential greater than an input supply potential. The intermediate pumped potential becomes a supply potential for a portion of the second stage circuit. The second stage circuit generates a pumped output potential greater than the intermediate pumped potential.

Both the first and second stage circuits have at least two capacitors, a small pump capacitor and a large pump capacitor. The first stage circuit of the invention supplies the increased intermediate pumped potential to those nodes which are used to charge the small pump capacitor of the second stage circuit. The input supply potential supplies the potential to those nodes which are used to charge the large pump capacitors of both stages and the small pump capacitor of the first stage circuit. The small pump capacitor of the second stage circuit, in turn, supplies the gate voltage to an n-channel transistor of the second stage circuit which passes a full charge from the large pump capacitor of the second stage circuit to the output. Charging only the small pump capacitor of the second stage circuit with the intermediate pumped potential minimizes the loading effect of the second stage circuit on the first stage circuit.

The first stage circuit is used to boost the efficiency of the second stage circuit. The loading on the first stage circuit is very small in comparison to the load which will be driven by the pumped output potential. Since the second stage circuit is operating off of the intermediate pumped potential generated from the first stage circuit, it is more efficient and is able to source the V_(ccp) at a lower V_(cc) or V_(ccx) level than if the first and the second stage circuits were running in parallel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block schematic of a circuit of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic of the circuit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of an oscillator signal used to drive logic circuitry of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a charge pump circuit and method for generating a pumped potential. In one application the pumped potential is used to pass a full charge to or from a storage capacitor of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The charge pump circuit of the invention features a first stage circuit having pump capacitors and a second stage circuit having pump capacitors. Both the first and the second stage circuits are connected to either an external supply potential or a regulated supply potential. The first stage circuit increases the supply potential to create an intermediate pumped potential which functions as an additional supply potential to the second stage circuit. There is minimal loading on the first stage associated with the charging of the second stage pump capacitors.

FIG. 1 is a block schematic of the charge pump circuit 5 of the invention. The charge pump circuit 5 comprises a first stage circuit 10 and a second stage circuit 15. The first stage circuit 10, which is connected to and driven by an external supply potential, V_(ccx), or alternately to a regulated V_(ccx), V_(cc), generates the intermediate pumped potential at intermediate output node 20. The second stage circuit 15 is also connected to and driven by V_(ccx), and the intermediate pumped potential is the additional supply potential to the second stage circuit 15. The second stage circuit 15 generates the pumped output potential (V_(ccp)) of the charge pump circuit 5 at node 25. The V_(ccp) at node 25 may be used to pass charge to and from storage capacitors of a DRAM or may drive some other load 30. V_(ccp) is also fed back to a voltage regulator circuit 35 which monitors the value of V_(ccp). When V_(ccp) falls below a desired level the voltage regulator circuit 35 actuates an oscillator circuit 40 which supplies an input signal having a period to a logic circuit 46. The logic circuit, in response to the oscillator signal, generates logic control signals to control the generation of V_(ccp) by the charge pump circuit 5. The intermediate pumped potential is greater than the supply potential of the charge pump circuit 5, and V_(ccp) is greater than the intermediate pumped potential. Regulators and oscillators are well known to those skilled in the art and may be implemented with various circuit configurations.

The second stage circuit 15 of FIG. 1 comprises four subcircuits 50 configured in parallel with each other. Each subcircuit is connected to V_(ccx). Each subcircuit is also connected to the intermediate node 20 and the intermediate pumped potential becomes a supply potential for a portion of each subcircuit 50. Each subcircuit 50 responds to at least one logic control signal. The actual number of subcircuits may vary and may be greater or less than four.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic of the circuit of FIG. 1. Identical elements of FIGS. 1 and 2 have been numbered the same. Only one of the subcircuits 50 is detailed schematically in FIG. 2. The remaining three subcircuits have identical circuitry. Therefore, the description of the detailed subcircuit 50 is valid for the remaining subcircuits, and references to subcircuit 50 in the following description apply to each of the subcircuits 50. Some components in subcircuit 50 will be designated as either a "second stage" or a "first stage" component in order to distinguish similar components of the two circuit stages.

Both the first stage circuit 10 and the subcircuit 50 of the second stage circuit 15 have a small capacitor 55 and a large capacitor 65. A first stage transistor 70 passes the charge stored on the first stage large capacitor 65 to intermediate node 20 when first stage transistor 70 is gated by the charge stored on the first stage small capacitor 55, and second stage transistor 70 passes the charge stored on the second stage large capacitor 65 to output node 25 when second stage transistor 70 is gated by the charge stored on the second stage small capacitor 55. First and second stage transistors 70 are connected at their respective input terminal to first and second stage large capacitors 65 respectively.

Although in this embodiment the capacitance of the small capacitor 55 is smaller than the capacitance of the large capacitor 65 the invention is equally applicable when the capacitors have equal capacitances.

The logic circuit 46 responds to the oscillator signal and produces first (L1), second (L2), and third (L3) logic control signals at output nodes 80, 81, and 82 respectively. L1, L2, and L3 are control input signals to both the first 10 and second 15 stage circuits. Each section of the logic circuit 46 can be designed by someone skilled in the art to create the desired logic signals L1, L2, and L3 as described herein, and the exact circuitry is not detailed in this specification.

In one embodiment L1, L2, and L3 are periodic signals having equal periods which are equal to the period of the oscillator, however the three signals have different duty cycles, as can be seen by examining the timing diagram shown in FIG. 3. The oscillator signal is represented by Y and the logic signals are represented by L1, L2, and L3 in FIG. 3. The vertical axis represents electrical potential and the horizontal axis represents time. Signal L1 transitions low prior to L3 transitioning low and transitions high after L3 transitions high. In this embodiment signal L3 is high longer than it is low, and signal L2 transitions high after both L1 and L3 transition low and returns to the low state while both L1 and L3 are still low.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it can be seen that each of the large capacitors 65 is connected to a buffer 85 which is supplied by V_(ccx). Buffer 85 may alternately be a level translator in the event that the device has a regulated V_(cc) which is used to generate L1, L2, and L3. In this event 85 would translate the signal L3 from V_(cc) to V_(ccx). This is true in both the first stage circuit 10 and subcircuits 50.

A diode 90 is electrically interposed between each large capacitor 65 and V_(ccx) and is connected to large capacitor 65 at node 95. The diode 90 holds the potential of node 95 at V_(ccx) -V_(t1), where V_(t1) is the threshold voltage of diode 90. A threshold voltage of a device is the minimum potential that must be applied to the device in order for the device to conduct current. When the logic circuit generates a high active signal at node 82, buffers 85 drive a high signal to their respective nodes 95 thereby increasing the potential of nodes 95 by V_(ccx) and bringing the potential of nodes 95 to 2V_(ccx) -V_(t1).

A diode 100 is electrically interposed between each small capacitor 55 and V_(ccx) and is connected to small capacitor 55 at node 105. The diode 100 holds the potential of node 105 at V_(ccx) -V_(t2), where V_(t2) is the threshold voltage of diode 100. When the logic circuit generates a high active signal at node 80 level buffer 110 drives a high signal to first stage node 105 thereby increasing the potential of first stage node 105 by V_(ccx) and bringing the potential of first stage node 105 to 2V_(ccx) -V_(t2). The 2V_(ccx) -V_(t2) on node 105 actuates first stage transistor 70. The charge on first stage node 95 is passed through the actuated first stage transistor 70 with a V_(t3) (the threshold voltage of first stage transistor 70) loss to the intermediate node 20, driving the intermediate node to a potential equal to two times V_(ccx) minus V_(t2) and minus V_(t3). In the case where the two threshold voltages are equal the formula for V_(cci) is 2V_(ccx) -2V_(t3).

The potential of the intermediate node 20 is called the intermediate pumped potential, V_(cci).

A first stage precharge circuit comprises a level translator circuit 115, a common node 120, and transistors 125 and 130 electrically interposed between V_(ccx) and nodes 105 and 95 respectively. Level translator circuit 115 is connected at a level translator circuit supply node 131 to the intermediate node 20. The level translator circuit 115 is interposed between output node 81 and common node 120. Common node 120 is connected to the gates of the transistors 125 and 130. When the logic signal L2 at node 81 goes high it is level translated from V_(cc) or V_(ccx) to the intermediate potential which in turn actuates transistors 125 and 130 thereby precharging first stage nodes 105 and 95 to a full V_(ccx) level.

Since the first stage nodes 105 and 95 are precharged to the full V_(ccx) level they are allowed to swing from V_(ccx) to 2V_(ccx), rather than 2V_(ccx) -V_(t2), as L1 and L3 swing from 0V to V_(cc), Therefore the potential at the intermediate node is now allowed to swing up to 2V_(ccx) -V_(t3), where V_(t3) is the threshold voltage of first stage transistor 70. Once the potential of the intermediate node reaches this value, 2V_(ccx) -V_(t3), it is referred to as the intermediate pumped potential, V_(cci).

Subcircuit 50 comprises a second stage precharge circuit similar to the first stage precharge circuit. The second stage precharge circuit comprises a level translator circuit 140, a common node 141, and transistors 145 and 150. Level translator circuit 140 is connected at a level translator circuit supply node 151 to output node 25. Since the potential of the output node is the pumped potential and is greater than the intermediate pumped potential, when the logic signal L2 at node 81 goes high it is level translated from V_(ccx) to V_(ccp) which in turn actuates transistors 145 and 150. Therefore second stage nodes 105 and 95 are precharged to V_(ccx) when L2 is high.

The V_(cci) generated by the first stage circuit 10 and equal to 2V_(ccx) -V_(t3) becomes the supply potential for a second stage level translator circuit 135. When the logic circuit generates the high active signal at node 80, level translating circuit 135 translates the high V_(cci) to second stage node 105 which has been precharged to V_(ccx). Therefore the potential of second stage node 105 is equal to 3V_(ccx) -V_(t3). The 3V_(ccx) -V_(t3) actuates second stage transistor 70 passing the full value, 2V_(ccx), of the potential at second stage node 95 to output node 25. The pumped potential, V_(ccp), at output node 25 is therefore equal to 2V_(ccx) as long as 3V_(ccx) -V_(t3) -V_(t4), where V_(t4) is the threshold voltage of the second stage transistor 70, is greater than or equal to 2V_(ccx). For example if all of the V_(t) s of the circuit were equal to 1 volt the circuit would not function optimally below 2 volts.

Therefore even though V_(ccx) may be decreased due to design considerations the pumped output potential is not decreased by the threshold voltage, and the pumped output potential at node 25 is large enough to allow the full charge of a storage capacitor to be passed to and from the storage capacitors of a DRAM. This is true even for small supply potentials less than 3 volts.

The generation of the pumped potential of the invention is efficient since the majority of current draw of the second stage circuit is supplied by V_(ccx). Thus the first stage can have a small driving capacity since it is not loaded by the second stage.

An example may help the reader appreciate the advantages of the invention. Assume V_(ccx) is equal to 2 volts and all V_(t) s are equal to 1 volt. When the logic circuit 46 responds to the oscillator signal the small 55 and large 65 pump capacitors of the first stage circuit 10 charge to twice V_(ccx) or 4 volts. The 4 volt potential on the first stage small pump capacitor 55 actuates first stage transistor 70. Then the 4 volt potential stored on the first stage large pump capacitor 65 is coupled to the intermediate node 20 with a 1 volt loss due to the threshold potential of the first stage transistor 70, and the intermediate pumped potential is equal to 3 volts.

Now the intermediate pumped potential is level translated to second stage node 105 which is precharged to 2 volts. Therefore the potential of second stage node 105 is equal to 5 volts. Second stage node 95 is charged to twice V_(ccx) or 4 volts. The 5 volts on second stage node 105 actuates second stage transistor 70 which then passes the 4 volts on second stage node 95 to output node 20 without a loss. Thus the pumped potential at node 25 is equal to 4 volts which is sufficient to actuate an access transistor and allow a full value of a potential stored or to be stored on a storage capacitor to pass through the access transistor.

Although the invention refers to a method for pumping a supply potential to a value capable of actuating an access transistor such that the access transistor passes a full charge to and from storage capacitors of a DRAM, it is not restricted to implementations which involve memory devices or semiconductor devices.

Where electrical functions and connections are described, it is understood that it is possible, within the scope of this invention, to use equivalent circuits to perform the described functions. As an example, a transistor can be used as a diode or resistor. Likewise, two electrical components which are connected may have interceding components which physically separate the two components. "Connected" is therefore intended to include components which are in electrical communication despite intervening components.

The circuit and method of the invention have utility in other circuits where a pumped potential is desired and is not limited to DRAM circuits. Accordingly the invention should be read as limited only by the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A voltage pump for increasing a value of an input supply potential, comprising:a) a first circuit portion responsive to the input supply potential and configured to generate an intermediate potential greater than the input supply potential; b) a second circuit portion responsive to the input supply potential and configured to generate a boosted potential greater than the intermediate potential; c) a switching device having a first terminal for receiving the boosted potential from the second circuit portion and having a gate; and d) a third circuit portion responsive to the intermediate potential and configured to generate a gate potential greater than the intermediate potential at the gate of said switching device such that said switching device couples, when actuated by the gate potential, the first terminal to a second terminal of said switching device.
 2. The voltage pump as specified in claim 1, further comprising a precharge circuit electrically interposed between the gate and the first terminal of said switching device, said precharge circuit precharging the gate and the first terminal of said switching device to at least the input supply potential.
 3. The voltage pump as specified in claim 2, wherein the output potential is an actuation potential of said precharge circuit.
 4. The voltage pump as specified in claim 2, wherein the intermediate potential is an actuation potential of said precharge circuit.
 5. The voltage pump as specified in claim 1, wherein the gate potential is greater than the boosted potential.
 6. A method for increasing a value of an input supply potential, comprising the following steps:a) pumping a potential of an intermediate node to an intermediate potential greater than the input supply potential; b) establishing a control potential on a control node of a switching device; c) increasing a value of the control potential by a value generally equal to said intermediate potential such that the control potential increases to a value greater than the intermediate potential; d) increasing a value of a potential of a first terminal of the switching device by a value of the input supply potential to create a boosted potential at the first termnal; e) actuating the switching device with the control potential; and f) coupling the first terminal to a second terminal of the switching device during said step of actuating.
 7. The method as specified in claim 6, wherein the control potential is greater than the boosted potential.
 8. A method for pumping an input potential to a value capable of driving an electrical circuit, comprising the following steps:a) increasing a value of the input potential to provide an intermediate potential; b) establishing a control potential on a control terminal of a coupling device; c) increasing a value of the control potential to a value generally greater than the intermediate potential; d) increasing a value of said input potential to provide a boosted potential at a first terminal of the coupling device; e) actuating the coupling device with the increased control potential; and f) driving a potential of a second terminal of the coupling device to a full value of the boosted potential, the potential driven to said second terminal capable of driving the electrical circuit.
 9. A voltage pump for increasing a value of an input supply potential, comprising:a) a first circuit portion responsive to the input supply potential and configured to generate an intermediate potential greater than the input supply potential; b) a second circuit portion responsive to the input supply potential and configured to generate a boosted potential greater than the intermediate potential; c) a switching device having a first terminal for receiving the boosted potential from the second circuit portion and having a gate; and d) a third circuit portion responsive to the intermediate potential and configured to generate a gate potential greater than the boosted potential at the gate of said switching device such that said switching device couples, when actuated by the gate potential, the first terminal to a second terminal of said switching device.
 10. A method for increasing a value of an input supply potential, comprising the following steps:a) pumping a potential of an intermediate node to an intermediate potential greater than the input supply potential; b) establishing a control potential on a control node of a switching device; c) increasing a value of the control potential by a value generally equal to said intermediate potential; d) increasing a value of a potential of a first terminal of the switching device by a value of the input supply potential to create a boosted potential at the first terminal; e) actuating the switching device with the control potential, the control potential being greater than the boosted potential; and f) coupling the first terminal to a second terminal of the switching device during said step of actuating.
 11. A method for pumping an input potential to a value capable of driving an electrical circuit, comprising the following steps:a) increasing a value of the input potential to provide an intermediate potential; b) establishing a control potential on a control terminal of a coupling device; c) increasing a value of the control potential; d) increasing a value of said input potential to provide a boosted potential at a first terminal of the coupling device; e) actuating the coupling device with the increased control potential, wherein the increased control potential is greater than the boosted potential; and f) driving a potential of the second terminal to a full value of the boosted potential, the potential driven to said second terminal capable of driving the electrical circuit.
 12. The method as specified in claim 6, further comprising the step of driving a potential of the second terminal to the boosted potential. 